--- title: "Bullets Over Broadway: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bullets Over Broadway (1994): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 9 reviews: 9 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are unanimous in their approval. Most critics call this one of Woody Allen’s funniest and most energetic comedies in years, a screwball farce set among 1920s theatre folk that satirises their pretensions without slackening the pace. The praise clusters on the cast: Dianne Wiest’s haughty leading lady Helen Sinclair is singled out again and again, with Jennifer Tilly’s Olive and Chazz Palminteri’s gangster Cheech close behind. Several critics credit the Cheech twist, a hit man who turns out to have more talent than the playwright, with lifting the film above routine backstage comedy. The spread is narrow, running from warm to very warm, and the reservations are mild. Empire finds it a charming diversion that lacks the depth of Allen’s best work, Film Comment wishes he had chased the comic possibilities of the milieu harder, and Time Out notes some clichés and clumsy staging. Nobody argues against seeing it. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 April 2014. The film is one of Woody Allen's finest, a screwball comedy thriller that is elegant, effervescent, superbly constructed and very funny. The critic singles out the performances, particularly Dianne Wiest's Oscar-winning turn as the haughty leading lady Helen Sinclair. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/apr/06/woody-allen-bullets-over-broadway-mia-farrow-abuse-allegation) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 September 1994. Festival review. The critic calls the film a bright, energetic, side-splitting comedy with vital matters on its mind, exactly the kind of sharp-edged farce Allen does best. She singles out the wild card of the gangster Cheech for making the story more than a routine comedy. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/30/movies/film-festival-review-allen-s-ode-to-theater-and-as-always-new-york.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2015. The critic calls it Allen's fizziest piece in years and a merciless satire on the pretensions of theatre folk. They single out the fiercely competitive caricatures from Tilly and Wiest for praise while noting some clichés and clumsy staging but ultimately recommend seeing it. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/bullets-over-broadway) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 1995. The critic praises the rapid-fire gags and the interplay between the gangster and theater worlds in this 1920s-set comedy, highlighting strong ensemble performances especially from Dianne Wiest as the vampish leading lady. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/cinema-great-gags-bad-lines-1619491.html) ## Empire — Colin Kennedy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review calls it a delightful diversion with a remarkable ensemble and brilliant gags, noting the vivid period atmosphere and witty dialogue as a charming addition to Allen's canon, though it lacks the depth of his best work. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bullets-broadway-review/) ## Film Comment — Robert Horton Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 November 1994. Festival review. The critic calls it Woody Allen’s funniest movie in years, praising its lovingly realized 1920s Broadway backdrop and the way a gruff gangster character is willing to die for his art. They note some untapped comic possibilities in the milieu and wish Allen paid more attention to pure comedy. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/festivals-new-york-1994/) ## Los Angeles Times — Peter Rainer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 1994. The critic finds the film a lively theatrical and gangster satire that riffs on the nature of artistry, with Cheech as the true artist among poseurs. He praises the over-the-top performances, especially Dianne Wiest as Helen Sinclair and Jennifer Tilly as Olive. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-21-ca-52825-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 1994. The critic praises the film's clever twist involving a gangster's bodyguard who improves the play, turning a routine backstage comedy into something funnier and tougher. He highlights the strong ensemble cast, especially Chazz Palminteri's performance, and the dark humor about art and morality. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bullets-over-broadway-1994) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 1994. Festival review. The critic describes the film as a clever Cyrano twist on a backstage comedy mixed with gangster elements that keeps improving and will please Allen's fans. He singles out Chazz Palminteri's delightful performance as the hit man who secretly contributes to the play. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/bullets-over-broadway-2-1200438721/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md